University of Cincinnati Air Care will have a helicopter operating out of the Union Township Civic Center on a temporary basis to reach the eastern area more quickly. From left are Union Township Fire Chief Stanley Deimling, Air Care Registered Nurse Dennis Schmidt, and Flight Doctor Bill Hinckley.

By Kristin BednarskiSun staff

One of University of Cincinnati Hospital’s Air Care units is temporarily operating from the Union Township Civic Center.

Union Township Administrator Ken Geis announced at the trustees April 25 meeting that Air Care arrived earlier in the week and would be operating out of the civic center for the time being.

“They are here 12 hours a day for a period of time,” Geis said during the meeting.

Geis said a helipad was constructed at the civic center when it was built, and Air Care officials thought the township would be a good location further east of the city.

Geis said they are glad to have Air Care at the civic center and closer to residents.

“It is an incredible benefit for Union Township residents to have Air Care in the community,” Geis said. “Hopefully they will stay for a long time.”

Fire Chief Stan Deimling said having Air Care closer is great because it brings advanced care closer to the scene and saves time transporting patients.

Deimling said with Air Care being in their back yard, it also gives them the opportunity to communicate and work together.

Dr. William Hinckley, medical director for Air Care, said Air Care has wanted to be able to have a base further east of Cincinnati for a while.

Hinckley said it is not clear how long they will operate out of the civic center. He said they are looking for a permanent location east of Cincinnati.

“But, for now this is great,” Hinckley said.

Hinckley said prior to them operating out of the township, their closest base to the eastern area was University of Cincinnati Hospital.

The crew had just returned from making a run after the trustee meeting April 27, and Hinckley said being at the civic center made it the trip significantly shorter than if they would have had to fly from downtown.

According to the Air Care website, Air Care and Mobile Care units have provided the Cincinnati area with medical transport services for patients in the community for more than 25 years.

Air Care has 140 employees and offers accredited air transport with a trained physician on every flight.